Who are we...that is Annie and Guy? (April 14, 2009)
Our website has been up and running now for just over 2 years and we continue to be amazed by the number of hits that we receive from every part of the World. 1000's of you view our site every single day and a lot of gardening directories are also picking us up and including some of our articles on Scented Geraniums. We find it quite mind blowing really!
There's mostly just the 2 of us that is me (Annie) and my partner Guy. We're both computer savvy but Guy's the Genius when it comes to web design, promotion and getting our website noticed all over the world. I do most of the written text, plant info and write the Hot Topics. It's a good combination and works well. We are both young at heart and in the mind but sadly the body doesn't quite get this aging thing and it can be a problem and so we do have occasional help for some of the heavy work...plus with the curse of all gardeners, the weeding of our outside plants.
This year we have totally revamped the inside of the polytunnel and further progress has been made since this photo was taken. Guy has just about finished installing the automated watering system, which will save masses of time.
All of the beds in the tunnel will be like the one on the right and this will create mini micro climates. We'll be doing a similar set up in the greenhouse shortly. In general we are trying to implement systems that will create an healthy environment for the plants and save lots of time.
I'm the one that's the plant fanatic although Guy is interested and does help out quite a lot in the Nursery. He's also my 'technical department' and has planned all of the infrastructure in the Nursery and implemented it, which I can assure you does take a lot of doing when you are not loaded with sacks full of cash. Until you've actually attempted to set up a Nursery no amount of reading and researching would ever be able to really spell it out to you just what is involved. You need a lot of perseverance, determination and patience to achieve your goals. Not to mention a very good sense of humour during the tough times.
Since Guy and I met about 6 years ago life has been one long adventure and many wouldn't believe what we have managed to fit in during that period. We have lived in Mid and North Wales, Scotland and now Northern Ireland for the past 3 years. Early in our relationship we lived in a touring caravan for a few months and that was very interesting, especially when the heater burst into flames one night. We are really settled here in Northern Ireland and live in the most ideal place ever and have been so fortunate to have come across this lovely rural spot set beneath Benbradagh Mountain. No light pollution, no noisy traffic, clean fresh air, the most wonderful neighbours ever and surrounded by nature. We grow most of our own vegetables, have just planted our first fruit trees and may well have chickens by this time next year. Yes, The Good Life.....for that is what it is. And if all of this isn't enough to have come across glorious Scented Leaf Pelargoniums, how lucky are we?
I've been growing and enjoying plants for years but it was an innocent comment from a customer that set me off reseaching for a plant that had a lemon smell. The Internet truly is a wonderful tool. I soon discovered Scented Leaf Pelargoniums...funnily enough I think my first purchase was from ebay, of all places. Well, once they arrived...that was me hooked for eternity and you could say that the rest is history. From sending off for 6 different SG's about 3 years ago we now have approaching 70 different cultivars and probably close on 10,000 plants. As with all of my plants propagation remains a total fascination and I just can't help myself!!
Jiffy 7 pellets are just one of the many ways that we propagate the Scenteds.
When you order starter plants from us they may come in a Jiffy 7 - you do not remove the netting but plant it and it will rot over time. The roots grow through into the compost.
Through the emails that we receive from our Website we have come across some lovely people and, of course, fellow SG admirers and addicts. The great thing about plants is that in general it does attract 'nice' folk!! So thanks to one and all for supporting us over the past couple of years and let's hope over several more in the future. We really do love growing and caring for our Scented Leaf Geraniums and hope that you come to have the same passion that we have.
Here's a photo of the Greenhouse in late March 2009
we still have a lot of work to do in here but it has been brilliant for the SG's over the past Winter - no losses this year due to frost!
I'd better finish now as I can hear myself beginning to waffle!!
Annie (& Guy)
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